Sornnujah Kathirgamanathan: Celebrating The MedGen Class of 2023 Valedictorian

From MedGen class rep to Valedictorian, Ontario Graduate Scholarship awardee Sornnujah Kathirgamanathan had an inspiring journey in the Medical Genomics program. In addition to “a lot of personal growth,” she has developed technically and professionally through the program’s unique curriculum and practicum opportunity. 

Upon completing her Bachelor’s in the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto in 2021, Sornnujah “knew [she] definitely wanted to go to graduate school.” She was attracted to the unique opportunity of getting “hands-on experience” in the Medical Genomics’ capstone practicum, where students can take on professional roles with research, clinical and industry partners. Sornnujah also appreciated the comprehensive range of career prospects the MedGen program provided. “We get a taste of everything,” she says, speaking to the broad scope of topics in the curriculum, which allows students the flexibility to explore their interests. 

Regarding her Medical Genomics program experience, Sornnujah says, “It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made.” One thing that sets the MedGen program apart is its attention to the professional development of its students. Sornnujah explains that the exposure to public speaking, group work and interviewing skills, as well as the emphasis on how to present and market yourself as a professional, is something she is highly grateful for. 

Sornnujah has “always had a passion for bioinformatics” but struggled with the all-too-relatable imposter syndrome. Gaining lab experience and making connections through the MedGen program helped Sornnujah build her confidence. But it was her practicum that accelerated her passion and secured her determination. Sornnujah worked at Illumina as a Bioinformatics Analyst Assistant for four months, exposing her to different industry aspects. She took on exciting projects such as developing bioinformatics pipelines on Illumina’s cloud-based platform. Despite the pressure and responsibility that came with transitioning from an academic setting to a fast-paced, dynamic workplace, Sornnujah had a newfound self-confidence and an “unbelievably supportive team” who encouraged her. Through her successful practicum, Sornnujah confirmed her interest in becoming a “real bioinformatician.” 

Sorrnujah says that a meaningful part of her master’s experience was taking the initiative to encourage her cohort to stay connected and get involved despite the challenges posed by a hybrid learning environment during their first year of the program. “We’re only together for so long,” she states. Finding opportunities to spend time together between assignments, such as “weekly music competitions,”  was a fun way for students to take their minds off stressful periods. In a collaborative effort between herself and fellow MedGen student representative Milcah Sutanto, Sornnujah spearheaded a professional headshot event to expand the professional portfolios of both her cohort and the larger Molecular Genetics department. Sornnujah believes it was this and her enthusiasm to take on initiatives to support her peers in the program that led to her valedictory in her graduating year. You can read more about Sornnujah’s work as a MedGen student rep here. 

Since graduating, Sornnujah is now a Bioinformatics Support Scientist at Illumina and says, “I couldn’t be happier to be where I am now.” She advises students entering the Medical Genomics program to “be prepared to be uncomfortable. Once you accept and internalize that, being uncomfortable is where you grow the most.”

We are proud of Sornnujah’s growth and achievements and wish her the best of luck in all her future endeavours.